The Riverwalk was built and dedicated in 1981 as a celebration of Naperville’s Sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary. Embraced as a gathering place, it has become a focal point of the community, drawing visitors from far and wide to take in its beauty; it is recognized as one of the most picturesque spots in the Midwest. Its covered bridges, fountains, lush landscaping and distinctive shepherd’s crook light poles aptly tie Naperville’s historic past as the oldest settlement in DuPage County to the city’s present
Categories
Outdoor Kids Activities:
Picnic Areas, Playgrounds & Parks, Rivers and Lakes, Riverwalks
Grab a starbucks and head to the Riverwalk. We feed the ducks and the kids run up & down the sled hill. You can pack a nice lunch to eat under a big tree or you can purchase food in the little food stand (a bit pricey). The playground is usually packed. The teenagers invade the riverwalk at night - so we always go earlier in the day.
I really love the Riverwalk area in Naperville, I just wish I was a resident! My kids love the playground, enjoy the ducks, and we love being so close to Jefferson Ave and the shops there. Everything is close enough that you can park in one spot and walk all over the area. Gelati is the best!! Centennial Beach looks like fun, but the non-resident rate is $10, even for kids, so that makes for a pretty expensive trip to the pool. Their resident season passes, though, are pretty reasonable and if I lived in Naperville, I would definitely get them.
I love going to the Naperville River Walk and taking a stroll by the river and enjoying the ducks there. My daughter loves going to the playground by the river and to Nichols Library for a very fun story time at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. We are not residents of Naperville, but anyone can attend the story times at Nichols Library and not all libraries allow that. Nichols Library is by the Riverwalk and I include it on our visits to the Riverwalk. We also like to eat in town or by the river. It's a beautiful place to visit and unwind. Lots to do, shop, dine, browse at the local bookstore, nature walk, stop at the playground and in the summer at the pool or for a little further to the Naper Settlement. So much to enjoy in the area, so it's worth a trip there to check everything out that might interest you. We just joined the DuPage Children's Museum and for kids 1-12 yrs., that too is a must see. A very fun place and well worth the membership fee. It is just minutes from the Riverwalk. I rate this as 5 winks.
What a fantastic place to either be busy, or sit and relax! There is much to see and do along the Riverwalk. The summer/fall settings are impressive. You will see beautiful landscaping, ducks and geese, water fountains, covered bridges, benches, and plenty of other activities. The popular downtown Naperville streets are certainly close that offer shopping, cafes, restaurants, etc. I took my daughter to one of the water fountains this summer to take photos of her playing the violin, and they turned out great! The covered bridge also makes a great backdrop for photos!
what a beautiful river walk! A great place for a nice walk with the family. I enjoy being able to look around and see so many things. You can go there for a leisure stroll or for some time to spend walking with the family.
I wasn't overly impressed with the Riverwalk. To drive all the way to Naperville, just for the Riverwalk was a waste for us. I wish there were more things to do or if I lived near there, maybe I would not have been so disappointed.
We love the riverwalk. It can be dangerous for younger kids tho. There is nothing to stop a kid from falling in and the water runs pretty fast. But, as long as you keep an eye on the kids and have they stay so many feet away from the ledge, all should be great. It's one of our favorite places to go.
This is a great place to go if you have small kids. The nature is beautiful and they have a playground designed for small kids. There are always sucks and my kids love to count all of them.
The Naperville Riverwalk is a great place to take a nice leisurly walk and enjoy the scenery. We haven't gone thi year but we plan on going soon. This year our daughter will be able to run around and enjoy seeing the ducks
There is much to see and do along the Riverwalk. Beautiful landscaping, ducks and geese, the music of the carillon, and a large playground near the west end. You are also within walking distance of downtown Naperville for a quick lunch or snack.
great place for exercise, fresh air and nature abound. Park, stroll and end up at the playground with the kids. This playground is designed for kids 5 & under. However, older kids have a great time as well. Right across the park is also a skate board park that has great ramps for the older set as well as volleyball nets and during the summer days you can take a dip in Centenial Park outdoor pool
This is great for a nice little stroll. There are places to stop off and have a picnic, an ampitheatre for story times and impromptu performances, ducks and other water life, covered bridges, paddle boats and it's all connecting Centennial Beach and the shopping district. The only drawback for little ones is that the sidewalk is close to the water with no fence or rail to keep active ones from jumping in. (Not that it's ever happened to us....)
